Clinical Psychologist for Chronic Pain and fatigue
Specialist in chronic pain, persistent fatigue (ME/CFS, Long Covid), and related conditions — online therapy across the UK with over 30 years’ NHS experience
Watch a brief introduction
I provide online psychological therapy for people living with chronic pain, persistent fatigue, ME/CFS and Long Covid, helping you understand your symptoms, reduce distress, and gradually regain control of your life.
All sessions are delivered online via secure video, allowing you to access specialist support from home.
“After 7 sessions with Simon, I feel like a new person. I have my purpose back and I no longer suffer with panic attacks.”
— Sally, April 2024
You might be experiencing:
If you are in crisis, contact your GP, attend A&E, or call Samaritans (116 123).
Anxiety, panic attacks, and low mood
Many people experience persistent anxiety, panic attacks, or low mood at some point in their lives. These difficulties can be exhausting and unsettling, particularly when they begin to interfere with sleep, concentration, work, or relationships. It is common to feel caught in cycles of worry, avoidance, or self-criticism, and to find that efforts to “push through” or regain control do not bring lasting relief.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) offers a well-established, evidence-based approach for these kinds of difficulties. Rather than trying to eliminate unwanted thoughts and feelings, ACT helps you develop a different relationship with them, reducing their impact and influence. This allows you to step out of unhelpful patterns, regain psychological flexibility, and begin to move towards what matters most to you.
I offer a calm, structured, and compassionate approach, drawing on over 30 years of clinical experience. Therapy is collaborative and practical, focused on helping you make meaningful changes at a pace that feels manageable. The aim is not simply to reduce symptoms, but to support you in building a life that feels more stable, purposeful, and aligned with your values.
Chronic pain, fatigue, or a long-term health condition
Chronic pain and persistent fatigue can be profoundly disruptive. They often intrude into sleep, concentration, work, relationships, and day-to-day functioning, making even routine tasks feel effortful. Many people describe a sense of unpredictability and loss of control, particularly when symptoms fluctuate or worsen without clear cause. Living with a long-term health condition brings its own challenges, including the ongoing need to adapt, manage uncertainty, and cope with the impact on identity and future plans.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has a growing evidence base in the treatment of chronic pain, with systematic reviews and meta-analyses showing improvements in functioning, distress, and quality of life, even when pain itself does not fully resolve. Rather than focusing on symptom elimination, ACT supports a shift in how pain and fatigue are responded to, reducing struggle and avoidance, and increasing psychological flexibility. More recently, approaches such as Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) have shown promising results in chronic pain populations, targeting central mechanisms of pain perception. While the evidence for fatigue conditions is still emerging, these developments are consistent with a broader shift towards understanding and treating persistent symptoms through changes in nervous system processing and behavioural response.
I bring over 30 years of clinical experience, including a substantial role in developing and leading NHS services for people living with chronic pain and fatigue. My approach is structured, collaborative, and grounded in evidence, while remaining attentive to the individual experience of each person. The focus is on helping you make sense of your symptoms, reduce their impact, and move towards a more stable and meaningful way of living, at a pace that is both realistic and sustainable.
There is more information on treatments for chronic pain HERE
Trauma, loss, or the effects of past experiences
Experiences of trauma, loss, or difficult events from the past can continue to have a significant impact long after they have occurred. This may include intrusive memories, heightened anxiety, emotional numbness, or a persistent sense of threat. For some, the effects are more subtle but still disruptive, shaping patterns of avoidance, self-criticism, or difficulty in relationships. Loss, whether recent or longstanding, can also alter one’s sense of meaning, identity, and connection, particularly when it has not been fully processed or acknowledged.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) provides an evidence-based framework for working with trauma-related difficulties, particularly where individuals feel stuck in cycles of avoidance, rumination, or emotional overwhelm. ACT does not require detailed retelling of traumatic events but instead focuses on helping you develop a different relationship with distressing thoughts, memories, and feelings. This supports a gradual re-engagement with life, guided by personal values. In addition, trauma-focused approaches such as trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (TF-CBT) and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) have a strong evidence base for post-traumatic stress, and may be incorporated where appropriate within a broader, individualised plan.
I offer a careful, paced, and compassionate approach to this work, recognising the importance of safety, trust, and collaboration. My clinical experience includes working with a wide range of trauma presentations within NHS settings, where I have been involved in developing and delivering services for individuals with complex and longstanding difficulties. The aim is to help you process what has happened, reduce its ongoing impact, and support you in moving forward in a way that feels more grounded and connected.
The emotional impact of cancer, fear of recurrence, treatment-related distress.
A diagnosis of cancer can be profoundly challenging, bringing uncertainty, fear, and significant emotional strain. Many people experience anxiety about treatment, fear of recurrence, and a sense of disruption to their usual life and identity. Fatigue, physical side effects, and the ongoing demands of treatment can further reduce resilience. Even after treatment has ended, it is common for worries and adjustment difficulties to persist, particularly as support from medical services becomes less frequent.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is well suited to supporting people living with and beyond cancer. It focuses on helping you respond more effectively to difficult thoughts and feelings, rather than becoming caught up in attempts to control or avoid them. This can reduce distress and support a renewed sense of direction and purpose. There is a growing evidence base for ACT in cancer populations, showing improvements in psychological wellbeing, distress, and quality of life. The approach is flexible and can be adapted to different stages of treatment and recovery, as well as to the specific challenges associated with uncertainty and fear of recurrence.
I bring extensive clinical experience in working with people affected by serious health conditions, including cancer, within NHS settings. My approach is calm, structured, and compassionate, with a focus on understanding your individual situation and supporting you in making meaningful adjustments. The aim is to help you regain a sense of stability and control, while finding ways to live well alongside the realities of your condition.